Baby Safety / Compounds / Digoxin (Digitalis cardiac glycoside)

Is Digoxin (Digitalis cardiac glycoside) safe for babies and kids?

Elevated risk for kids

Infants are highly susceptible to Digoxin (Digitalis cardiac glycoside) due to lower body weight, immature detoxification pathways, and dietary exposure through contaminated grains or breast milk.

What is digoxin (digitalis cardiac glycoside)?

The IUPAC name is 3-[(3S,5R,8R,9S,10S,12R,13S,14S,17R)-3-[(2R,4S,5S,6R)-5-[(2S,4S,5S,6R)-5-[(2S,4S,5S,6R)-4,5-dihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxy-4-hydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxy-4-hydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxy-12,14-dihydroxy-10,13-dimethyl-1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,11,12,15,16,17-tetradecahydrocyclopenta[a]phenanthren-17-yl]-2H-furan-5-one.

Also known as: 3-[(3S,5R,8R,9S,10S,12R,13S,14S,17R)-3-[(2R,4S,5S,6R)-5-[(2S,4S,5S,6R)-5-[(2S,4S,5S,6R)-4,5-dihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxy-4-hydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxy-4-hydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxy-12,14-dihydroxy-10,13-dimethyl-1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,11,12,15,16,17-tetradecahydrocyclopenta[a]phenanthren-17-yl]-2H-furan-5-one, digoxin, Lanoxin, Dilanacin.

IUPAC name
3-[(3S,5R,8R,9S,10S,12R,13S,14S,17R)-3-[(2R,4S,5S,6R)-5-[(2S,4S,5S,6R)-5-[(2S,4S,5S,6R)-4,5-dihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxy-4-hydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxy-4-hydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxy-12,14-dihydroxy-10,13-dimethyl-1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,11,12,15,16,17-tetradecahydrocyclopenta[a]phenanthren-17-yl]-2H-furan-5-one
CAS number
20830-75-5
Molecular formula
C41H64O14
Molecular weight
780.9 g/mol
SMILES
CC1C(C(CC(O1)OC2C(OC(CC2O)OC3C(OC(CC3O)OC4CCC5(C(C4)CCC6C5CC(C7(C6(CCC7C8=CC(=O)OC8)O)C)O)C)C)C)O)O
PubChem CID
2724385

Risk for babies

Elevated risk

Infants are highly susceptible to Digoxin (Digitalis cardiac glycoside) due to lower body weight, immature detoxification pathways, and dietary exposure through contaminated grains or breast milk.

Neonates and infants up to 12 months have incomplete blood-brain barrier development, immature Phase I/II metabolic enzymes (particularly CYP3A4, UGT1A1), and higher gastrointestinal permeability. Equivalent doses produce higher internal concentrations and longer residence times.

What to do: Minimize infant exposure through source control. For breastfeeding mothers: reduce maternal exposure. For formula-fed infants: use certified low-migration bottles and verified water sources. Consult pediatrician regarding any concerns.

Risk for pregnant and nursing people

Context-dependent

Pregnancy alters the metabolism and distribution of Digoxin (Digitalis cardiac glycoside), potentially increasing fetal exposure. The developing embryo/fetus is vulnerable during organogenesis (weeks 3-8) and neurological development. Placental transfer should be assumed.

No specific reproductive toxicity data identified, but pregnancy-specific safety data is limited for most chemicals. Precautionary minimization of exposure is recommended.

What to do: Minimize exposure during pregnancy and lactation. Consult healthcare provider regarding specific risks. Consider alternative products with lower hazard profiles.

Regulatory consensus

2 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified Digoxin (Digitalis cardiac glycoside). The classifications differ — that's the data.

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
EPA CTX / IARC—Group 2B - Possibly carcinogenic to humans
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye—Skin Irritation: SkinIrr2 (score: high)

Regulators apply different standards of evidence — animal-data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds — which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. The disagreement is the data.

Where kids encounter digoxin (digitalis cardiac glycoside)

  • Industrial Facilities — Manufacturing plants, Chemical storage areas, Waste treatment sites
  • Occupational Environments — Factories, Warehouses, Transportation vehicles

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Digoxin (Digitalis cardiac glycoside):

  • Avoidance (no chemical substitute)
    Trade-offs: Direct chemical substitution requires verification that the replacement does not introduce new hazards (regrettable substitution). Conduct full hazard assessment of proposed alternative before adoption.
    Relative cost: 1.2-2×

Frequently asked questions

Is digoxin (digitalis cardiac glycoside) safe for kids?

Infants are highly susceptible to Digoxin (Digitalis cardiac glycoside) due to lower body weight, immature detoxification pathways, and dietary exposure through contaminated grains or breast milk.

What products contain digoxin (digitalis cardiac glycoside)?

Digoxin (Digitalis cardiac glycoside) appears in: Manufacturing plants (Industrial facilities); Chemical storage areas (Industrial facilities); Factories (Occupational environments); Warehouses (Occupational environments).

What should I do if my child is exposed to digoxin (digitalis cardiac glycoside)?

Minimize infant exposure through source control. For breastfeeding mothers: reduce maternal exposure. For formula-fed infants: use certified low-migration bottles and verified water sources. Consult pediatrician regarding any concerns.

See Digoxin (Digitalis cardiac glycoside) in the baby app

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Sources (2)
  1. US FDA: Digoxin — Narrow Therapeutic Index Drug Safety Communication, Therapeutic Range, Drug Interaction Risk, and Digoxin-Specific Fab Antidote Use (2016) (2016) — regulatory
  2. ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: Foxglove (Digitalis spp.) and Related Cardiac Glycoside Plants — Digoxin-Type Toxicity in Dogs and Cats, Clinical Presentation, and Treatment Outcomes (2019) — veterinary

Reference data, not professional advice. Aggregates publicly available regulatory and scientific data; not a substitute for veterinary, medical, legal, or regulatory advice. Why we built ALETHEIA →